Tag: ipad

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple reportedly has minimal updates for Mac, iPad, and other products this year

Apple will reportedly offer minimal updates to its iPad, AirPods, Apple TV, and Apple Watch product lines in 2023 due to its focus on launching the long-rumoured and repeatedly delayed mixed-reality (MR) headset.

According to Bloomberg‘s reliable Mark Gurman in the latest Power On newsletter, Apple will have a “muted 2023” because the company has been pulling resources from several hardware and software engineering departments to work out the kinks with the MR headset. Apple is expected to reveal the headset, reportedly dubbed ‘Reality Pro,’ in the spring ahead of its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The headset runs on xrOS, internally called ‘Borealis.’ The idea is that Apple will unveil the device, then use WWDC to get developers up-to-speed on the software and features ahead of the headset shipping in the fall.

Few major Mac changes save a possible 15-inch MacBook Air

As for Apple’s other products, Gurman listed out what he expects to see in 2023. Starting with the Mac lineup, Gurman says new MacBook Pros will come in the first half of the year with a processor bump to the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. Gurman describes the chips as “marginal leaps” from the current MacBook Pros.

Gurman also noted that Apple reportedly cancelled the high-end configuration of the Mac Pro with 48 CPU cores and 152 graphics cores. Instead, the company plans to launch a version running on the M2 Ultra. The Mac Pro will reportedly look identical to the 2019 ‘cheese grater‘ model. Moreover, the Mac Pro will lose some expandability since RAM is tied directly to the M2 Ultra, but it should still have two SSD slots and expansion options for graphics, media, and networking cards.

Moreover, Gurman doesn’t expect Apple will launch a larger iMac Pro in 2023, while a spec bump for the 24-inch iMac won’t happen until the M3 chip is ready — Gurman says it’ll be late 2023 or 2024 at the earliest. Perhaps the biggest upcoming product is a rumoured 15-inch MacBook Air coming this year.

iPads, Watches, and more

When it comes to iPads, Gurman noted that Apple has been working on larger models but has been told not to expect them in 2023. Additionally, the 11- and 13-inch iPad Pro updates won’t come until the first half of 2024 — the updates will likely include a new design and OLED displays.

As for other iPad models, like the mini, Air, and entry-level iPad, Gurman says any updates that come this year — if there are any — will just be spec bumps.

Moving on to the Apple Watch, Gurman doesn’t expect any major changes to the hardware. Instead, there will just be some minor performance improvements. AirPods also “won’t get any updates of note” this year, and there are no plans for a new Apple TV, either.

Finally, Gurman says the larger HomePod is still set to return this year, but likely won’t have “anything revolutionary.” Gurman expects a lower price, an updated touch control panel, and the S8 chip from the latest Apple Watches in a similar package to the 2018 model.

Gurman noted that upcoming Apple software updates, including iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS 14, will likely have fewer major features than normal due to the focus on xrOS.

Source: Bloomberg

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple’s iOS 16.2 features improved always-on display and iCloud end-to-end encryption

iOS 16.2, the latest update to Apple’s mobile operating system, has dropped.

First off, iPhone 14 Pro owners now have more always-on display settings that allow users to turn off the features wallpaper and notifications. End-to-end iCloud encryption and Apple Music’s new Sing karaoke feature are also included in the update to iOS 16.2.

End-to-end iCloud encryption prevents data like Notes, Photos and, most importantly, iCloud backups from being accessed by hackers and law enforcement (Apple claims that even it can’t access the backups). Sing, on the other hand, brings real-time lyrics to thousands of Apple Music songs. In total, iOS 16.2 comes in at 1.29GB.

As usual, iPadOS 16.2 is also now available, though the tablet operating system update include as many notable new features. Stage Manager now supports external display and Freeform, Apple’s cloud-based collaboration app, are part of this update.

Finally, both iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 feature Apple’s revamped HomeKit platform.

Apple also dropped its bug fix-focused macOS Ventura 13.1 and watchOS 9.1 updates.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Amazon discounts 2021 iPad to $379

While the new 10th gen iPad may have seen a price bump, last year’s model is getting heavily discounted because of it. If you’re looking for a solid tablet for media consumption or some light gaming, this device/price is hard to beat.

Amazon has the 2021 iPad (64GB) discounted to $379, which is $50 off the regular price of $429. The 256GB version is also discounted as its price is $554. You can get either model in Space Grey or Silver.

Be warned, this is listed as a one-day deal, so it may not last past November 21, 2022.

If you want a bit of iPad context, you can read reviews of some modern iPads below;

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Source: Amazon

Categories
Mobile Syrup

The Apple Pencil USB-C adapter is taking me to new dongle heights

One of the most controversial aspects of the new USB-C iPad (2022) is that it’s meant to be used with the first-generation Apple Pencil, which has a Lightning connector built into it.

This sounds fine, but the new iPad has a much-praised USB-C port instead of a Lightning jack. This makes connecting most accessories pretty easy, but plugging in the first gen Apple Pencil is impossible without a $10 dongle.

Don’t get me wrong, I think USB-C is the right step for the iPad to make, but it’s a tough pill to swallow nonetheless. There’s nothing inherently intrusive about the new USB-C to Apple Pencil Dongle, either. As far as dongles go, the price isn’t absurd, and it’s small and easy to slip into a pocket or a bag.

Setting it up is easy too. The new iPad comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box, so if you have an Apple Pencil and this updater, all you need to do is chain them together, and voila, your Pencil and iPad are wirelessly connected from now on.

“If I had to guess, I’d expect the company to be saving the magnetic Apple Pencil support for next year”

However, there’s likely going to be a huge contingent of people that have to buy it just to use it for that single connection phase. You need the dongle to pair the Pencil to your iPad, but beyond that, I think most people will charge the pencil another way, such as plugging it into an iPhone. Having the dongle is handy for charging, but like many Apple Pencil owners already know, taking a small dongle like this outside is always a risk.

The USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter is about twice as long as the Lightning adapter.

I’m sure some might have to keep this thing around to charge the stylus every so often, but at that point, you better have a safe home for it since these little adapters can slip away at any moment.

I would have loved to see Apple add support for both Pencils to this new iPad to help people bridge the gap from the Lightning to USB-C generations of iPads, but if I had to guess, I’d expect the company to be saving the magnetic Apple Pencil support for next year.

If you really care about drawing on iPad, and can afford it, the new Apple Pencil 2 and the iPad Air is a better bet, but it costs significantly more. If you can’t afford it, the new iPad is still a good experience, but be aware of the hassles of this new dongle.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple reports record $90.1 billion Q4 revenue, but iPhone disappoints

Apple generated $90.1 billion USD (about $122.2 billion CAD) in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2022, a record for the September quarter.

This marks a nine percent year-over-year increase, and helped bring Apple’s total 2022 fiscal year revenue to $394.3 billion USD (about $534.8 billion CAD) — itself an eight percent increase year-over-year.

That said, the iPhone brand didn’t perform as well as expected, generating $42.63 billion USD (about $57.83 billion CAD). While this was a 9.67 percent year-over-year growth for the iPhone brand, it was below the estimated $43.21 billion USD (about $58.62 billion CAD). This suggests a softer demand for the tech giant’s latest iPhones, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

Speaking to CNBC, Apple CEO Tim Cook insisted that iPhone sales were strong, stating the company has brought in more “switchers” — those who bought an iPhone after owning an Android device. He also said there were supply constraints on the iPhone 14 Pro.

Notably, nearly all of Apple’s brands exhibited growth this quarter, with the exception of the iPad, which dropped 13.06 percent year-over-year to $7.17 billion USD (about $9.73 billion CAD). The latest iPad models, the iPad (2022) and iPad Pro, launched earlier this week.

Mac experienced the most significant growth, generating $11.51 billion USD (about $15.61 billion CAD) vs. an estimated $9.36 billion USD (about $12.7 billion CAD) — a 25.39 percent year-over-year increase.

Other Products revenue, which includes the Apple Watch, came in at $9.65 billion USD (about $13.09 billion CAD) — a 9.85 percent year-over-year jump and above the $9.17 billion USD (about $12.44 billion CAD) estimate.

Finally, Apple’s Services division, consisting of the likes of the App Store, iCloud and Apple Music, brought in $19.19 billion USD (about $26.03 billion CAD). This was up 4.98 percent from Q4 2021, but below the projected $20.10 billion USD (about $27.26 billion CAD).

As is the case since 2020, Apple didn’t provide any guidance for Q1 2023. However, it does have the aforementioned new iPads, as well as the recent increase price of Apple Music, Apple TV+ and Apple One.

Source: Apple

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple’s iPad (2022) and iPad Pro (2022) are now available

Apple’s iPad (2022) and iPad Pro (2022) are now available to order in Canada.

The new entry-level iPad (2022) starts at $599 and comes in ‘Blue,’ ‘Pink,’ Silver’ and ‘Yellow.’ While the redesigned entry-level iPad with more squared-off edges and a USB-C port is a cut above its predecessor in design, it also costs $150 more than the 9th-gen iPad.

For more on the 10th-gen iPad, check out our review of the tablet.

On the other hand, the iPad Pro (2022) Apple’s iPad Pro (2022) starts at  $1,099 for the 11-inch and $1,499 for the 12.9-inch version. The new high-end tablet is nearly identical to its predecessor, with the move to the more powerful M2 chip being the notable exception.

For more on the M2-powered iPad Pro (2022), check out our look at the high-end tablet.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple jacks up iPad prices heading into the holidays

Apple announced several new iPad models on October 18th. But while those stole the headlines, the company also quietly updated iPad pricing, raising costs across the board in Canada.

The keen eyes at iPhone in Canada spotted the price increases, which range from $20 to as much as $200. First, Apple appears to have raised the price for its newest iPad Pro compared to previous models (which are no longer available unless you can find a refurbished one):

  • 11-inch M2 iPad Pro (2022)

    • 128GB: $1,099, up from $999
    • 256GB: $1,229, up from $1,129
    • 512GB: $1,499, up from $1,379
    • 1TB: $2,039, up from $1,879
    • 2TB: $2,579, up from $2,379

  • 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (2022)

    • 128GB: $1,499, up from $1,399
    • 256GB: $1,629, up from $1,529
    • 512GB: $1,899, up from $1,779
    • 1TB: $2,439, up from $2,279
    • 2TB: $2,979, up from $2,779
  • It’s another $200 on top of the above for the cellular models.

That’s not all. Apple announced a new version of its entry-level iPad, which has long been the budget iPad option. The new 10th-gen iPad starts at $599, which is about $170 more than the 9th-gen iPad. Worse, the 9th-gen iPad is still available from Apple but now starts at $449 instead of the previous $429 price.

Along with the entry-level iPad, Apple upped the price of several other iPad models, including:

The price updates are certainly a bummer, although it remains unclear why exactly the prices went up. Likely, it relates to inflation, supply chain issues, and other economic stresses. Either way, it sucks for Canadians who might plan on picking up an iPad during the holiday season.

Via: iPhone in Canada

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple will likely reveal its rumoured M2-powered iPad Pro this week

Apple’s upcoming M2-powered iPad Pro will likely be revealed in “a matter of days,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

This will be the first new version of Apple’s high-end tablet since the release of the M1-powered 12.9-inch and 11-inch iPad Pro in May of last year. Apple’s more powerful M2 chip will reportedly offer a 20 percent speed boost over the M1 processor featured in last year’s iPad Pros.

Gurman also mentions that Apple plans to launch a new iPad Dock with an integrated speaker and new Macs later this year. The dock will reportedly turn the iPad into a Nest-Hub-like device and sounds very similar to Google’s plans for its Pixel Tablet. Apple’s new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will feature more powerful versions of its M2 chip called the M2 Pro and the M2 Max. Gurman says that an M2-powered Mac Mini is also on the way.

Apple’s new 2022 iPad Pro will likely feature the same design as last year’s models, including 11-inch and 12.9-inch displays. On the other hand, Gurman says that Apple is also preparing to launch a new entry-level iPad that features USB-C, 5G and an A14 chip. It’s unclear if Apple will announce its new entry-level iPad and iPad Pro tablets simultaneously, but both reveals will likely appear via press releases instead of a dedicated event.

Finally, the report mentions that Apple is working on an updated Apple TV that features its A14 chip and 4GB of RAM, offering a notable power boost over the current A12-powered/4GB of RAM version of the streaming device.

If Gurman’s report is accurate, we won’t have long to wait before Apple refreshes the iPad Pro and its entry-level iPad, with an announcement likely coming later this week.

Source: Bloomberg

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple expands Stage Manager to older iPads in latest iPadOS 16 beta

One of the more exciting features coming to iPads with iPadOS 16 is Stage Manager, which will finally allow iPad owners to use multiple apps simultaneously in an almost desktop-like experience with windowed multitasking. Now, it looks like Apple will bring Stage Manager to more devices, with some major caveats.

Apple earned some ire from iPad owners for restricting Stage Manager to iPads with its new M1 chip. There didn’t seem to be much of a hardware reason for the restriction, especially when devices like the base level iPad Air, which had the M1 chip but lacked other supposedly necessary capabilities, were set to get Stage Manager. Then, Apple delayed iPadOS 16, reportedly over issues with Stage Manager.

However, in the latest iPad OS 16 beta, Stage Manager is available on older iPad Pros. Specifically, Engadget reports that Stage Manager now works on the 11-inch iPad Pro (first gen and later) as well as the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (third gen and later), including the models with A12X and A12Z chips.

The caveat? iPad Pros not running the M1 chip won’t have access to Stage Manager on external displays. On the one hand, this is a bummer for anyone who wanted to use their old iPad Pro for some multi-monitor multitasking (although honestly, who buys an iPad for serious multitasking work?). On the other, this means Stage Manager will benefit more iPad owners by enabling much better multitasking.

The fifth iPadOS 16 developer beta also removes external display support for Stage Manager on M1 iPads, but that should be a temporary change while Apple continues working out the bugs. External display support should return in a software update later this year. In a statement to Engadget, Apple said:

“We introduced Stage Manager as a whole new way to multitask with overlapping, resizable windows on both the iPad display and a separate external display, with the ability to run up to eight live apps on screen at once. Delivering this multi-display support is only possible with the full power of M1-based iPads. Customers with iPad Pro 3rd and 4th generation have expressed strong interest in being able to experience Stage Manager on their iPads. In response, our teams have worked hard to find a way to deliver a single-screen version for these systems, with support for up to four live apps on the iPad screen at once.

“External display support for Stage Manager on M1 iPads will be available in a software update later this year.”

Of course, it also remains to be seen how well Stage Manager works on A-series chips. We’ll likely get answers about that sooner or later. Though, given the business of Stage Manager so far, it may make sense to wait until a more stable version is available before doing any serious testing.

Image credit: Apple

Source: Engadget

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Everything we’re still waiting for Apple to release

On September 7th, Apple held their first Fall event for 2022, unveiling solid updates to Apple Watch, AirPods, and the iPhone.

Apple opened the event by showing off the refreshed Apple Watch Series 8, lower-priced Apple Watch SE and the all-new 49mm Apple Watch Ultra. Sandwiched in the middle of the event, we saw the new third-generation AirPods Pro with a refreshed charging case. Apple finished up by giving us our first look at the much anticipated iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max.

Without a doubt, this was an impressive Apple event. However, there are still many exciting products in Apple’s pipeline. Several of which we expect to see sometime this year or in 2023. Here’s an overview of everything we’re still waiting on Apple to release sometime soon.

iPhone SE (4th generation)

Apple released the iPhone SE (3rd generation) in March of this year. The current version of the iPhone SE is nearly identical to the 2020 model with the addition of 5G connectivity and the A15 Bionic chip. We’re expecting to see a fourth-generation iPhone SE come out sometime in 2023 or 2024.

iPhone SE (2022) cameraThis new iPhone SE is expected to feature an iPhone XR/11 style body with a 5.7-inch to 6.1-inch display and possibly even Face ID. This would be a nice modern fresher for the budget-friendly iPhone as it’s the only other product in Apple’s lineup (besides the entry-level iPad) that hasn’t adopted Apple’s modern design language.

Redesigned Entry-level iPad

Last September, Apple unveiled a minor refresh to their 10.2-inch entry-level iPad. It’s now expected that we’ll see a complete redesign of the $429 iPad sometime later this year or early next year. It’s believed that this new entry-level iPad will adopt a design language similar to the iPad Air and iPad Pro featuring a squared-off body and reduced bezels.

It’s also expected the iPad will keep Touch ID, but contrary to the iPad Air and iPad mini, Touch ID may remain on the front of the iPad with a home button. There’s also a toss-up of whether the iPad will finally adopt USB-C or stick with lightning for its power connector. The new entry-level iPad will also likely ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack like most of Apple’s other products.

iPad

Since we didn’t see this refreshed iPad during Apple’s September event, many think that the iPad will be unveiled during an October event next month. Although, I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple withheld showcasing this product until a March education-focused event. With all these changes, it’s hard to say if the iPad will continue to keep its friendly $429 price point.

USB-C Accessories

Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported earlier this year that he expects many of Apple’s accessories to switch from lightning to USB-C. Anticipated accessories to make the switch include Apple’s infamous Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, MagSafe battery pack for iPhone 12 and above, and AirPods charging cases. No other changes are expected to occur for these products besides swapping lightning to USB-C for charging.

AR/VR Headset

Augmented reality, also known as AR, has been an area that Apple has been investing a lot of time and effort into making better year after year. Unsurprisingly, we’ve been waiting on an AR headset from the company for a few years now.

Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, has previously mentioned that he doesn’t love the idea of virtual reality (VR) because it takes a person out of the real world. Instead, he’s been a big proponent of how AR can improve our lives. It’s now expected that while we may not be able to buy Apple’s AR headset in 2023, we do expect some sort of preview next year.

Apple’s AR headset is rumoured to have two 4K or 8K micro-LED or OLED panels and have a $2,000 USD (about $2,625 CAD) price tag or more. Last month we started hearing reports that Apple filed for AR/VR-related trademarks, including ‘Reality One’.

Apple Car

Apple’s car project, frequently referred to as Project Titan, has been through a whirlwind of rumours. It’s widely expected that Apple has been working on an all-electric, fully self-driving car for years. Some of the earliest rumours go back to 2015. Now, it’s expected that Apple will showcase their vehicle sometime in 2025 if all goes according to plan.

That said, Project Titan has apparently dealt with several changes in leadership and abnormally high staff turnover for Apple. As a result, it wouldn’t be surprising if an Apple Car gets delayed further or scrapped altogether. Earlier this year, we heard reports that Apple was in talks with Hyundai/Kai and later Toyota about manufacturing the vehicle. It’s unclear whether those talks ever went anywhere.

Pro Display XDR (2nd generation)

The 2019 Pro Display XDR marked Apple’s re-entry into the consumer display market. However, its exorbitant $6,299 starting price was unobtainable for most. In March of this year, Apple unveiled the Apple Studio Display providing a still-premium but more affordable display. It’s now widely expected that Apple will release a new display later this year or in 2023.

The new screen will likely be either a second-generation Pro Display XDR or some sort of middle-of-the-road display. It’s expected that this new display will feature a 27-inch micro-LED display with Pro Motion. That means we can expect this new display to feature better colour contrast and up to a 120Hz refresh rate.

Apple Music Classical

Last year Apple acquired the popular classical music streaming platform, Primephonic. Primephonic has since shut down, and its library has been rolled into Apple Music. However, it’s expected that Apple will eventually roll out a dedicated app specifically for classical music under the Apple Music brand. We’ll likely see a preview of the app in a future Apple keynote.

14-inch iPad Pro

It’s expected that sometime in 2023, we’ll see refreshed iPad Pros. So far, there haven’t been too many rumours about what the refreshed iPad Pros will likely feature. Last year, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro gained a micro-LED display, while the 11-inch kept an LCD display.

It’s expected that in 2023, the 11-inch iPad Pro will be replaced by a 14-inch model with a micro-LED display. Other reports have stated that we may see our first ever OLED iPad with these new iPads Pros and potentially some new smart connector.

Cheaper Apple TV

The Apple TV has long been respected as one of the best streaming devices on the market. While it may be one of the best, it’s also one of the most expensive. Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted that we can expect a new Apple TV that “improves cost structure” in the second half of this year. We don’t know much about this Apple TV except that it’s likely to get a new processor.

M2 Pro/Max/Ultra Chips

Earlier this year, Apple showed off their new M2 chip with a new 13-inch MacBook Pro and redesigned MacBook Air. The M2 chip brought slightly improved performance compared to its M1 predecessor. Therefore, it’s not surprising that we’ll likely see M2 Pro and M2 Max chipsets in 2023 to replace the current M1 Pro/Max chips in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. We’ll likely also see a new M2 Ultra chip for the Mac Studio and perhaps a future Mac Pro.

Apple Silicon Mac Pro

During Apple’s Peek Performance event last March, Apple unveiled their most powerful Apple Silicon to date, the M1 Ultra. Notably, at the end of the event, Apple’s SVP of Hardware engineering John Ternus mentioned that only the Mac Pro was left to jump to Apple Silicon.

It’s not surprising that the Mac Pro is the last computer to transition, given the unique and specific workflows the Mac Pro is expected to accommodate. It’s unclear how modular the new Mac Pro will be; many of the current Intel Mac Pro users enjoy the computer’s modularity, yet thus far, Apple Silicon hasn’t been known for it.

It’s expected that the new Mac Pro will be configurable with either a new M2 Ultra chip or an even more powerful M2 Extreme chip granting access to up to 256GB of RAM. We’ll likely see up to a 40-core CPU and 128-core GPU.

There’s no exact release date for this new Mac Pro, but I like to believe that WWDC 2023 would be an excellent stage for its unveiling.