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Updated September 7: Details on iPhone 12 release date noted; Post originally published September 4:
Taking a look at another week of Cupertino news and headlines, this week’s Apple Loop includes some disappointing leaks of the iPhone 12, the ‘slow’ 5G iPhone, saying goodbye to the classic MacBook Pro, Apple’s iPad strategy, the new iOS 14 feature delayed, and the return of iPod Music Quiz.
Apple Loop is here to remind you of some of the many discussions that have taken place at Apple over the past seven days (and you can read my weekly Android news roundup here on Forbes).
Doubts about the specifications of the iPhone 12
Following its inclusion in the iPad Pro, analysts and commentators were confident that Apple would install a LiDAR sensor in the upcoming iPhone 12 phones. Of course, this was before the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on global supply chains. The new details suggest that Apple is still hedging its bets on including the LiDAR sensor in premium iPhone 12 models. Gordon Kelly of Forbes reports:
“Apple’s mysterious (but always trustworthy) leaker, Mr. White, has revealed a pair of iPhone 12 Pro cases that put a giant wrench in the works. One shows a triple camera setup from the iPhone 12 Pro and highlights the position of Apple’s exciting new LiDAR sensor, the other shows the same cameras but without the LiDAR sensor. “
Unlike in previous years, iPhone 12 phones are not expected to be available immediately after the launch event, allowing Apple to make the decision on their inclusion before production begins in earnest. Read more here.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro concept render
Will your iPhone 12 have ‘slow’ 5G or ‘fast’ 5G
The inclusion of LiDAR is not the only area in which consumers can get lost. Although the entire iPhone 12 family will be acquiring 5G, the vast majority of phones hitting retail shelves will have ‘slow’ 5G. Only the higher-end iPhone 12 Pro Max will support the fastest standard. Mark Sullivan reports:
“All phones in the new iPhone 12 lineup will support the slower but more common type of 5G Sub-6 service, but only the largest and highest-end phone in the line, a 6.5-inch screen device that’s probably called iPhone Pro Max., it will also support 5G millimeter wave.
“The source says that only the largest phone in the line has room inside for the special antenna design required for millimeter waves and a larger battery needed to accommodate the significant power consumption of millimeter waves. Also, only the versions from the US, Korea and Japan the Pro Max will support millimeter wave 5G. “
More on Fast Company.
Apple started to say … something …
(Updated September 7). Apple is expected to announce details on new product launches this week, presumably with the new portfolio of iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and Mac machines in the mix. That suggests Apple’s traditional September event is not far off and the public reveal of the new devices. The iPhone 12 family will naturally attract the most attention, although the impact of Covid-19 has disrupted both production and launch. Chance Miller reports:
“In general, Apple announces and sends out invitations to an iPhone event approximately two weeks before the event takes place. If Apple announces the iPhone 12 event on September 8, that would mean that the actual event could take place around September 22. September.
“What’s important to note, however, is that the iPhone 12 event will almost certainly be completely virtual, just like WWDC 2020. This means that Apple doesn’t necessarily have to give as much wait time as usual because members of the press do not need to travel to Cupertino. “
Say goodbye to the classic MacBook Pro
Apple’s shift from Intel architecture to ARM architecture for the Mac platform is a milestone for Apple, and it will see a sea change in macOS desktops and laptops. That will feel especially difficult with the MacBook Pro. While the name may remain the same, the current vision for the MacBook Pro is going to change. I looked at the issues earlier this week:
“As the new platform accelerates, developers will shift their attention away from the legacy versions to focus on the latest updates to the new platform. Certainly, some updates will carry over to Intel, but there will be a ‘before’ and an ‘after. ‘, and the MacBook Pro is squarely on the’ before ‘side of things.
“It will not be just third-party developers who will take this view. Apple will focus on pushing the ARM platform and leveraging the ARM feature set to differentiate the platform. Certainly key features to keep Intel machines connected to the cloud. Apple will be supported, but part of the appeal of moving to ARM is the advances that can be made in hardware and software that are not possible on the previous platform. “
Read more here on Forbes.
SAN ANSELMO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 27: In this photographic illustration, the MacBook Pro logo is shown in … [+]
Apple iPad strategy
Apple’s update to the iPad family, scheduled for the end of the year, although there are still doubts about what exactly will be released. Will it be the new mid-range iPad Air model, or the base iPad? And if it’s the latter, will Tim Cook and his team adopt the hit iPhone suffix? Mike Peterson reports:
“The iPad Air was last updated in March 2019, while Apple updated its low-cost iPad tablet in September of that year. Well-connected TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the device could adopt an “iPhone SE” strategy, packing fast internals in a lower-cost space. That seems to suggest it could be an entry-level iPad. “
More on Apple Insider.
Opt-out from iOS user tracking has been delayed
Apple has announced that it will delay the iOS 14 requirement for developers to request permission from users via a dialog to share their ‘Identifier for Advertisers’ tracker. Several companies involved in advertising, in particular Facebook, have expressed their opinion on the impact that this measure would have on their businesses. Devin Coldewey and Zack Whittaker report:
Expected later this year, iOS 14 will contain a new message asking users if they would like to opt for this type of targeted ad tracking. Developers will be able to embed this message into their apps as soon as iOS 14 is released, but they won’t be required to do so, as Apple indicated they would previously.
“… Although Apple mentions the need to give developers time, major advertising companies such as Facebook have warned that the change could seriously affect their operations.” Updates from Apple can make the Audience Network so ineffective on iOS 14 that it may not make sense to offer it on iOS 14, “the company said in a statement last week.”
Read more on TechCrunch.
Goodbye iPod, Hello iPod music contest
Not only does an iPod classic return to the iPhone, but Apple has made sure that developers can see how the ‘Music Quiz’ works and how they can build their own visions in the shortcut system of iOS 14. Filipe Espósito reports:
“The game has five rounds and shows the five different answers on the screen with the name of the songs, artists and album art. You can continue playing more rounds or even share your score on social networks.
“… The most interesting aspect, however, is the fact that the Music Quiz minigame was created entirely with Apple shortcuts, which shows just how powerful the app is. Expert users can edit the minigame’s shortcut to explore how it was built and also modify some of its aspects. “
More on 9to5Mac.
And finally…
Previously, Apple’s macOS 11 Big Sur wallpaper photo was duplicated by an intrepid team who took a helicopter over to Big Sur, found the correct position, and got the image. But why go to the trouble of using a real helicopter when Microsoft Flight Simulator models the entire Earth … including that spot in the sky that Apple used? Grayson Blackmon reports:
“To recreate these images, Matt flew to each location, then used Flight Simulator to position the camera, set the focal length, and adjust the time of day with the in-game controls. Then with a bit of post-processing magic in Adobe Lightroom, created the images below.
“… Rather than a multi-day hiking trip, I think this is a great substitute. It’s a good reminder that we can all take the tools at our disposal and use them in creative and unexpected ways.”
More at The Verge.
Apple Loop brings you seven-day highlights every weekend here at Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss out on any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s issue of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.
