Looking back at another week of news and headlines from Cupertino, this week’s Apple Loop includes boring iPhone 16, iOS 17.3 problems, missing iPads, smaller MacBook Pro use, App Store Antitrust news and when Apple will talk about ALL INCLUSIVE.
The Apple Loop is here to remind you of some of the many conversations surrounding Apple over the past seven days (and you can read our weekly roundup of Android news here at Forbes).
The new iPhone 15 Pro (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The problem of a boring iPhone 16
A recent analyst report from Braclays summarizes the currently known changes to the iPhone 16, and they see very little that Apple will bring to the new 2024 iPhone that will help it stand out from the current iPhone 15 family:
“Barclays writes, ‘After a two-year period of a better-than-trend upgrade rate, we see 2023 and 2024 as mid-reversal years.’ He also said, “AAPL remains a very strong ecosystem, transitioning from Mac-driven to iPhone-driven over the past decade,” Long wrote. “We believe there is less traction from the ecosystem with new products/services, which will make growth more difficult over the next several years.”
(Forbes).
iOS 17.3 Crashing Developers’ iPhones
Apple’s latest version of iOS is running in beta and had to be stopped. iOS 17.3 has massive bugs, causing it to lock up iPhones.
“Normally, the public beta of iOS 17.3 software is expected to follow the next day or so after the developer beta, but if the issue turns out to be widespread, that will likely be delayed. It’s even possible that the developer beta will be pulled by to solve the issue”.
And as the narrator would say, yes, the developer beta has been retired.
(Forbes).
Where were the iPads?
2023 saw at least one record from Apple, albeit not a positive one. The iPad range was content in the sense that it wasn’t refreshed at all.
“Since its debut in 2010, the iPad has been an important product for Apple and the clear leader of the tablet market, releasing at least one new model every year. Lately, the company has released as many as four new iPad models per year. Before in 2023, 2009 was the last year without a new iPad, simply because the product line hadn’t yet launched.”
(MacRumors).
Using the smaller Mac
One of the biggest issues many noted with the underpowered M3 MacBook Pro was its reliance on just 8GB of RAM for the expensive entry-level model. is enough? Brady Snyder decided to find out.
“The average person can find 8GB of memory plenty, as long as they’re not doing graphics work. Realistically, those who do 3D rendering or video editing aren’t thinking about an entry-level Mac anyway, so this isn’t a huge knock on these computers. The problems really start when you think about the Mac’s ability to remain relevant and capable over time. Memory requirements are constantly increasing, and I don’t think 8GB of memory will be enough a few years down the road.”
The New Vision Of The Vision Pro
Apple will bring Vision Pro headphones to market this year. But when? Apple Vision Pro’s latest estimate of retail sales starting, at least for now, is in the last week of January:
“Wall Street Insights… clearly says that the launch is set to take place on a date that falls on a Saturday in the United States, there is a possibility that the site is actually listing January 27th in China, which falls on Friday, January 26th in the United States States – a much more likely date for the Vision Pro launch.”
(MacRumors).
Apple And The US Antitrust Case
The long-running investigation into Apple by the US Department of Justice is getting closer to reporting on the issue of the App Store being the only method of distributing apps for the iPhone, and the thoughts of many are that Apple should allow either side -loading apps or allow third-party app stores.
“…Microsoft is expected to be one of the first companies to open a third-party app store for iOS apps, and it’s likely that many major game companies will follow suit. Games account for about half of Apple’s App Store revenue. “
(9 to 5 Mac).
And finally…
If everyone is talking about smartphones with artificial intelligence, then when will Apple enter the conversation? How about June’s Worldwide Developers Conference?
“At this point, speculation is probably enough. It would be both surprising and disappointing if Apple didn’t choose to make some substantial AI genetic improvements to Siri this year. We’ve noted in the past that Apple needs to be careful here, but 2024 looks like the time.”
(Yeux1122 via 9 to 5 Mac).
The Apple Loop brings you seven days worth 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 the Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.
