Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from Apple, including leaked iPhone 17 specs, the latest iPhone software problems, M4 iMac reviewed, Apple Watch anniversary celebrations, an early release for iOS, the cost of Apple Intelligence, and the return of the iPod.
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.
The Slow Arrival Of A Faster Screen For The iPhone 17
Apple looks ready to acknowledge another hardware option widely adopted across the Android ecosystem that it has stubbornly refused to add throughout its own portfolio. The rise of fast-refreshing screens in Android started in gaming-focused handhelds, with premium devices following soon after. It’s now a common feature in mid-range handsets. 2025 might see it (finally) arrive on the vanilla iPhone 17:
“The next iPhone may change all this as the same Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide panel technology will be applied to all models of the iPhone 17 series, according to a new report from the South Korean website ET News. …it’s hard to escape the idea that it will come too, as LTPO allows for variable refresh rates with less power consumption, meaning that Apple could introduce ProMotion without harming battery life.”
(Forbes).
If Your iPhone Is Missing Your Notes
Some iPhone users who have updated to iOS 18.2 are facing an empty Notes application and a loss of their personal memories. It’s not the end of the world; the culprit appears to be an issue around syncing to the cloud, and no doubt Apple will be rolling out an iOS patch as quickly as possible. For now, Benjamin Mayo has a potential fix:
“Go to Settings -> [your name] -> iCloud -> Notes.
“Wait for the ‘Sync this iPhone’ toggle to appear, and ensure it is enabled.
“Wait a couple moments and re-open the Notes app.
“The Notes app should now kick into action and start redownloading all your notes from iCloud.
(9to5Mac).
M4 iMac Review
Alongside the shiny MacBook Pro laptops launched late last month, Apple also updated the consumer desktop iMac hardware. The M4-equipped iMacs offer a minimum of 16 GB of RAM, the baseline for Apple’s generative AI suite. With the M4 Apple Silicon, the desktop has an abundance of power, as Forbes’ contributor found out as part of his review:
“The new iMac has the Apple M4 chip at its heart, a step up from last year’s M3 version. To be clear, the M3 iMac, which I’ve been using until now, has always been fast and capable and I’ve never known it to slow down or be glitchy. But, for sure, this is faster.”
(Forbes).
Let’s Party Like It’s 2025
As the Apple Watch approaches its tenth anniversary, the team behind the wearable are planning a bit of a party. Tucked away in the latest beta version of iOS is code for an anniversary achievement:
“Apple appears to be planning an activity challenge to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, which was released in 2015. In the latest iOS 18.2 beta, there’s a mention of a “Ten Year Celebration” with references to an activity achievement, so it sounds like something is in the works.”
(MacRumors).
Christmas Coming Early
We’ll likely see the next version of iOS earlier than expected. iOS 18.2 was initially down as “end of the year,” but as the holidays grow close and the beta versions are released, a more concrete timescale is becoming clearer:
“The iOS 18.2 operating system update, which includes major improvements to Apple Intelligence… is likely to arrive on the earlier side of December, I’m told. How early? The week of Dec. 2, barring any unexpected delays. “
(Mark Gurman via Bloomberg)
The Literal Cost Of AI
iOS 18.2—alongside iPadOS and macOS—will introduce the second wave of Apple Intelligence apps. The headline feature will be the addition of ChatGPT to Siri, but it will not be smooth sailing. Unlike Galaxy AI and Google AI, those wanting the latest ChatGPT models will need a subscription… Apple is not going to subsidise the service to the same level as the competition:
“…the system settings [of the iOS 18.2 beta] displays a daily limit for ChatGPT usage and an option to upgrade to the paid ChatGPT Plus plan or be moved to an older AI model. Existing ChatGPT Plus users can sign in on their iPhone, while those new to the system have the option to Upgrade To ChatGPT Plus. I’d be interested to know if Apple will take its customary thirty percent rake on the monthly subscription fee of $19.99.”
(Forbes).
And Finally…
Apple may have cancelled the sale of new iPods, but that doesn’t mean the community has given up their love of the revolutionary digital audio player. Bradley Chambers has profiled one company serving that community… Elite Obsolete Electronics:
“What began as buying broken Apple products on eBay, repairing them, and selling them for profit soon grew into a full-fledged business. Elite Obsolete Electronics tapped into a growing Reddit community and other online forums dedicated to iPod fans. Lucas noted, “There used to be a big iPod community, but as people moved to iPhones and iPads, the skills to repair iPods dwindled.” Yet, Elite Obsolete Electronics became the go-to source for those who wanted more than just battery replacements.”
(9to5Mac).
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.
