Updated July 21 with new details on Apple AirPods release dates.
Take a look at this week’s Apple news and headlines, including new iPhone 16 features, iPhone 16 Pro launch dates, Apple’s AI delay, improved Files app for iPad Pro, Cellbrite excluded from iOS, Microsoft grants Apple’s AI wish, and a shelf full of Emmy nominations/
Apple Loop is here to remind you of some of the many discussions surrounding Apple over the past seven days. You can also read my weekly Android news roundup here on Forbes.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max in Titanium White (Photo by Ming Yeung/Getty Images)
iPhone 16 Pro Key Feature Updates
Apple continues to stand out from other Android smartphones, especially mid-range ones, and far from its premium smartphones. Building on last week’s leaks, we have more information about the faster-charging iPhones coming this year.
“It’s not just that the battery will be different, although a recent report suggests that it will, but that when it does run out, it will be much faster to recharge. This is because the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max support 40W wired charging speeds…
“Currently, all iPhone 15 series phones support wired charging speeds of up to 27 watts, provided you have a powerful enough charging plug. That means you can charge your iPhone 15 from zero to 50% in about 30 minutes. That’s not bad, but faster would be better.
(Forbes).
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro launch dates
Apple, led by Tim Cook, has adopted a predictable release schedule for each generation of iPhone, and there’s no indication that 2024’s iPhone 16 family will change that pattern. Forbes’ David Phelan looks at the likely announcement dates and the announcement timeline:
“I think the keynote will be on Tuesday, September 10th… Apple announces the keynote on different dates, usually with a vague and obscure message that gives away more than you might expect. Apple likes to make a splash with the keynote reveal, so I think they’ll make the announcement on Wednesday, September 4th or Thursday, September 5th for maximum effect. As soon as that’s confirmed, we’ll know the pre-order and release date.”
(Forbes).
Update: AirPods 4 expected to be released this year
It’s not just the latest iPhones that many are waiting for, Apple’s AirPods are even older. The current third-generation AirPods were announced on October 21; a cheaper option that removed MagSafe/Qi charging from the case was released in September 2022, but since then, Apple’s audio accessory has remained untouched. The Apple community will be happy to hear that the fourth generation of AirPods is on track to arrive by the end of the year:
“The AirPods 4 models are said to feature a design that “looks like a mix” of the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro, including short stems. Neither AirPods 4 variant will feature replaceable eartips like the AirPods Pro, but they will “offer an improved fit… the new AirPods 4 models are expected to be released later in 2024. Apple typically releases new AirPods around the same time as new iPhones in September.”
(9to5Mac).
iPhone 16 Pro software delayed
Even though the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will be released in late September, Apple’s real upgrade will be the introduction of artificial intelligence. The grandiosely named Apple Intelligence should help catch up with Android, but it won’t happen overnight. It won’t even happen in 2024:
“Yet the AI that the iPhone clearly lacks right now won’t be available until Q1 2025. Tim Cook and his team will be begging Apple loyalists to buy the phone with the promise of getting AI at some point in the future. In the meantime, all of these benefits are available on Android (since 2023). Apple’s iPhone will be two generations behind Android’s AI efforts before it even leaves the Cupertino stage.”
(Forbes).
Take the files you want with you
While the iPadOS 18 update isn’t as comprehensive as many had hoped, Apple has addressed several issues and annoyances that users were facing. The Files app now offers smarter downloads and offline access from major iCloud sources:
“Not only on iPad, but also on iPhone in iOS 18, you can long-press on a file or folder and find a new “Keep Download” button in the menu. That’s right, you can tell iPadOS to keep an entire downloaded folder or file permanently, never to be uploaded to the cloud again.”
(9o5Mac).
The return of the secure iPhone
Cellbrite is a household name in security circles, given its expertise in digitally hacking locked smartphones for law enforcement. The company now reports that with its current tools, phones running the latest version of iOS are immune to their approaches.
“Leaked documents reveal that Cellebrite cannot unlock iPhones running iOS 17.4 and later, at least as of the date of publication (April 2024). The company has confirmed that the documents are authentic. Cellebrite devices, which are widely used by law enforcement, can hack most Android phones, although there are exceptions…
(9to5Mac).
AI Arrives
While many will be waiting for AI on the iPhone 16 family, those who need it now might want to consider an unusual solution, at least for generative AI images… Microsoft:
“After being in preview for nearly a year, Microsoft Designer is finally available to everyone. Tested with Microsoft Edge and other browsers via a website, Designer is now available on more platforms, including apps for iOS, Android, and Windows. The app itself is free, but requires a Microsoft account to sign in and use it. Previously, elements were available through Copilot in other Microsoft apps, including Word.”
(Apple Insider).
And finally…
This year’s Emmy nominations are now in, and Apple is proud to promote the success of its Apple TV. With a record 72 nominations, this is Apple’s best year ever for its production:
“With the best Emmy performance ever, Apple TV+ lands nominations for 16 Apple original programs, including Lessons in Chemistry, The Morning Show, Slow Horses, Palm Royale, Loot, Hijack, STEVE! (martin) a 2-part documentary, Girls State, The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy, Masters of the Air, Silo, Physical, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas, The New Look, Sugar, and more.”
(Apple).
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