Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from Apple, including Apple’s massive camera plans, iPhone 16 special offers, new OS numbers, the Intel Macs left behind, WhatsApp arrives on iPad, Apple tries to be a gaming platform again, and The Talk Show loses an important guest.
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.
SHANGHAI, CHINA – MAY 15, 2024 – Customers experience the newly released iPad Pro and iPad air at … More
Future Publishing via Getty Images
Apple Plans For A Massive 200 Megapixel Camera
Apple looks set to upgrade its 48 megapixel main camera used throughout the iPhone range to a 200 megapixel—which would bring it in line with flagships such as Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. A larger sensor will allow for more image detail, better video stabilisation, and more data for AI processing. But it’s the zoom option it opens up for smaller iPhones:
“Furthermore, the added resolution available from the new sensor could potentially show enormous improvements in iPhones without a dedicated telephoto lens, such as the “non-Pro” and “e” models. by expanding the current 48-megapixel “2x optical quality” zoom to an equivalent 4x with a new 200-megapixel Fusion camera.”
(Forbes).
Apple’s Latest Offer For iPhone 16 Buyers
Meanwhile, Apple has improved its offer to those looking to buy the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro. The trade-in value for smartphones handed over in the purchase has been posted, but you only have until June 18th to take advantage of it.
“All the iPhone trade-in rates have increased, but some have only gone up by as little as $5 compared to what they were before, and the full discount only comes when you trade in for an iPhone, not for anything else. Across the board, the trade-in values stretch from $50 for an iPhone 8 up to $650 for an iPhone 15 Pro Max, assuming each is in good condition.”
(Forbes).
Apple Lines Up New OS Numbers
One of the big draws at Apple’s upcoming Worldwide Developer Conference will be the updates across the board to Apple’s various operating systems. While the code will be closely examined, another change is going to be much more visible. It’s time to change the numbers:
“Instead of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, tvOS 19 and visionOS 2, Apple will standardize the numbers so they all refer to a year, specifically next year, rather like the way automobiles are named for the upcoming year. This is all according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who claims that the change is “to bring consistency to its branding.”
(Forbes).
Apple Thins Out The Intel Macs
With the upcoming launch of MacOS 26, Apple is closing in on a world where it only supports its own silicon. Hardware always drops off the supported list, but this year only a handful of Intel-based Macs remain supported; these are generally the 2020 models that were on sale in the months ahead of the Apple Silicon M1 reveal in Nov. 2020:
“Notably absent from this list are the 2018 MacBook Pro models, the 2020 Intel MacBook Air, the 2017 iMac Pro, and the 2018 Mac mini. These are also the oldest machines officially compatible with macOS Sequoia. As such, they are the most likely to lose support in any case.”
(Apple Insider).
What’s That On Your iPad?
It’s taken some time, but Meta has finally decided that iPad users can finally log on to WhatsApp with an iOS/iPadOS app that finally supports the tablet:
“…the most recent build that hit Apple’s App Store brings support for Apple’s tablet. It’s been a long time coming, and WhatsApp is even beating Instagram to the punch. While the release notes for the latest build, 25.16.81, don’t mention anything special, this fresh piece of code does enable support for the iPad. Once you’ve updated, it’ll stretch and fill the screen appropriately on an entry-level iPad, the iPad mini, or both sizes of the iPad Pro or iPad Air.”
(Techradar).
Ready Player One, Again?
Apple is going to take another swing at the gaming market. While the iPhone has been a boon for smartphone gaming, the big hitters remain resolutely reluctant to work with Apple, instead focusing efforts on the home consoles of Sony and Microsoft, the portable powerhouse of Nintendo, and the halfway house of the Steam Deck and the ROG Ally. Can another pre-installed app launcher with Apple achievements change that sentiment?
“The move is meant to enhance the experience on Apple devices at a time when gamers have plenty of alternatives, including cloud services and consoles. Nintendo Co. is preparing to roll out its much-anticipated Switch 2 device just days before Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9, when the new app will be introduced.”
(Bloomberg).
And Finally…
Curious news ahead of WWDC as one of the marquee Fringe events has annoucned news on its guest list This will be the first recording of John Gruber’s podcast “The Talk Show” at WWC to not feature a leading name from inside Apple:
“Ever since I started doing these live shows from WWDC, I’ve kept the guest(s) secret, until showtime. I’m still doing that this year. But in recent years the guests have seemed a bit predictable: senior executives from Apple. This year I again extended my usual invitation to Apple, but, for the first time since 2015, they declined.”
(Daring Fireball).
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.
