Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from Apple, including iPhone 17 Fold leaks, M4 MacBook Air launch, iPad Air upgrade, Brazil forces sideloading iOS apps, Gemini AI, Apple appeals UK encryption ruling, and the spring colours are here.
Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes.
M4 MacBook Air Feels Familiar
The long-awaited upgrade to the MacBook Air took place this week. Now sporting the latest M4 Apple Silicon, the Air has excited the community, but the feature list looks somewhat familiar to those who read the MacBook Pro specs:
“Highlights include the aforementioned M4 chipset, doubling the RAM on all models to 16 GB, supporting two external displays, and a price drop on the entry-level models to $999 for the 13-inch and $1,199 for the 15-inch. While the Apple community will welcome these features, it’s notable that they are all readily available on the current MacBook Pro models.”
(Forbes).
The iPad Takes A Small Step Forward
Also launched in the consumer space are upgrades to the iPad and iPad Air. The tables have been two generations behind the iPad Pro Apple Silicon. While they don’t get to jump as high as the M4 on the MacBook Air, they have stepped up. Forbes’ contributor David Phelan takes a closer look:
“The key upgrade here is the introduction of a much more powerful processor, with the Apple M2 chip being updated to Apple M3 for a faster experience with Apple Intelligence. Apple says that the new chip will bring advanced graphics architecture to the iPad Air for the first time, something which should mean even better graphics for gaming, for instance.
(Forbes).
iPhone 17 Fold Fixes Flawed Concept
$2000 for a folding phone. Specifically a folding iPhone. And one that Apple promises will remove the issues of a crease in the screen over the hinge? Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Tim Cook and his team are ready to join the world of the foldable.
“Crease-free, you notice. That is the holy grail for folding phones, or at least, it hasn’t quite happened yet, though there have been improvements. The hinge will be made of stainless steel and titanium alloy, with titanium alloy casing. Touch ID will return to the iPhone in the side button, it’s thought. The thickness would mean it comes close to the Oppo Find N5, the current thinnest phone which is 4.2mm thick.”
(Forbes).
Sideloading iOS Apps Set For Brazilian Debut
Apple has been fighting in the Brazilian Courts against a move to open iOS to app installations outside of the closed App Store model. Apple has now been given 90 days to do so, with the ruling in Europe cited as supporting evidence that it would not damage the company:
“Judge Pablo Zuniga has ordered that Apple will have to implement the required changes in Brazil within the next three months. The judge states that, despite Apple’s claims, the company “has already complied with similar obligations in other countries, without demonstrating a significant impact or irreparable damage to its business model.”
(9to5Mac).
Gemini Boosts iPhone AI
While Apple Intelligence flounders to get a foothold in the generative AI world, Google has boosted the ability to use AI on the iPhone, with the launch of six new widgets that bring Gemini functionality to the home screen of your phone.
“The company seems to be making a very intentional effort to lure iPhone and iPad users away from Siri — or at least get people using Gemini instead of OpenAI’s ChatGPT whenever they want to interact with a large language model. Google has also recently been advertising Gemini on Apple-centric tech podcasts.”
(The Verge).
Apple Appeals UK Backdoor Request
Following the presumed legal order by the UK Government to Apple to allow access to individual users’ encrypted backups, Tim Bradshaw and Lucy Fisher are reporting on Apple’s appeal to quash the order:
“The Silicon Valley company’s legal challenge is believed to be the first time that provisions in the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act allowing UK authorities to break encryption have been tested before the court. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal will consider whether the UK’s notice to Apple was lawful and, if not, could order it to be quashed.”
(FT.com).
And Finally…
Just in time for the clocks to go forward for spring, Apple has updated its cases and accessories with a new wave of bright and breezy colours. Cases, watch straps, are all up for a refresh:
“The classic Apple Silicone Case with MagSafe for the iPhone 16 line now has four more colorways: Aquamarine, Peony, Periwinkle, and Tangerine. The cases in these new colors do not fit the iPhone 16e but can accommodate the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max…
“The new silicone Sport Bands are available in Tangerine, Periwinkle, and Aquamarine; Periwinkle and Sage for the nylon Sport Loop Bands; new relaxed-fit Solo Loops in Peony, Periwinkle, and Northern Lights; and finally, new soft canvas-like Braided Solo Loops in Peony, Aquamarine, and Tangerine. “
(ZDNet).
Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on 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.
